The education gap facing students from multicultural families in Korea continues to widen, according to new government data showing rising dropout rates and persistent academic challenges. This education gap now shapes a growing national concern as the number of students with diverse backgrounds surpasses 200,000 for the first time.
New figures released by Rep. Kang Kyung-sook of the Rebuilding Korea Party reveal that 477 multicultural high school students left school during the 2023 academic year. Their 2.22 percent dropout rate exceeded the nationwide rate and marked a steady climb over four consecutive years. The Education Ministry’s data shows how the challenge has intensified since 2020, despite ongoing policy efforts.
Many students indicated that difficulty adapting to school life played a major role in their decision to leave. Analysts note that Korean-language coursework remains a significant barrier, and national assessments place many multicultural students in the lowest achievement tier. Furthermore, academic struggles often extend into social and emotional challenges, making adjustment even harder.
A recent government survey offers additional insight. Only 57.8 percent of multicultural students reported taking private tutoring last year, compared to 81.4 percent of all students. This lower participation rate creates further disadvantages as tutoring often supplements learning gaps in language and core subjects. Consequently, pathways to higher education remain uneven.
College enrollment statistics reinforce this trend. Although the four-year university entrance rate for multicultural students rose to 61.8 percent, it still lags 13 percentage points behind the national average. Many students express ambitions for higher education, yet structural barriers continue to limit outcomes. Nonetheless, experts say the increase since 2021 demonstrates gradual improvement.
Rep. Kang emphasized that schools must take a more comprehensive approach. She stressed that linguistic support alone is insufficient and urged institutions to offer academic guidance, emotional assistance and tailored career planning. According to Kang, robust systems are essential to prevent the education gap from growing further as the multicultural population expands.
Observers also argue that demographic shifts require Korea to adapt quickly. As the number of multicultural families rises, classrooms increasingly reflect a diverse student population. Therefore, education leaders must strengthen early intervention programs and ensure that support systems evolve with national needs.
Going forward, policymakers expect additional discussion about expanding counseling services, enhancing teacher training and improving bilingual learning tools. These measures aim to reduce dropout risks and close the education gap across all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
